History of the Peloponnesian War

But those three hundred that were appointed to assist the watch upon all occasions of need went without the wall and made towards the place of the clamour.

They also held up the fires, by which they used to make known the approach of enemies, towards Thebes. But then the Plataeans likewise held out many other fires from the wall of the city, which for that purpose they had before prepared, to render the fires of the enemy insignificant, and that the Thebans, apprehending the matter otherwise than it was, might forbear to send help till their men were over and had recovered some place of safety.